Zonta International offer a range of Awards and Scholarship for women and girls, locally, nationally and internationally.
Equality in education is an essential human right, critical to development for all. For women and girls, education provides the tools and resources to empower them to make decisions about their lives and the future of their families.
While significant progress has been made in achieving gender equality in primary and secondary school enrolment, significant gaps still remain at the university level. These gaps are even more significant in fields traditionally dominated by men.
To address these gaps and promote gender equality in education, Zonta International supports three programs for women and girls pursuing education and careers in the traditionally male-dominated fields of aerospace sciences and engineering, business and business management and public affairs.These programs are made possible through donations made to local Zonta Clubs, to District 16 and to the Zonta International Foundation.
The list of current awards offered in District 16 are outlined below. In addition to these awards Clubs throughout the country offer a range of specific Club awards – for details contact individual clubs.
International Awards
Women in Business Leadership Award
Young Women in Leadership Award
Amelia Earhart Fellowship
Women in Technology
Women in STEM Scholarship
District 16 Awards
Women in Business Leadership Award
Young Women in Leadership Award
Amelia Earhart Fellowship
District 16 Zonta Women of Achievement
Zonta Woman of the Biennium
Zonta District 16 Cherry Raymond Award
International Awards
Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award
Women have made great strides in the pursuit of education, careers and leadership roles they were once denied. As of March 2023, Women hold nearly 34% of committee chairs in the S&P 500 and 31% of director seats. Only 8.2% of S&P 500 company CEOs are women.
The Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award acknowledges and celebrates women who demonstrate exceptional leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, ethical conduct and make significant contributions to their respective industries while addressing global or local issues affecting women and girls or climate justice. Zonta International offers 10 international awards of US$10,000 each and a complimentary one-year supporting membership in Zonta International for the next financial year.

For over 16 years, Craigs Women’s Wealth has empowered the investment journeys of Kiwi women through support systems such as events, workshops, and educational material. By improving financial confidence and knowledge, we’re proud to help create better outcomes for women, their families, and the wider community through our specialised education and workshops.
In District 16 (New Zealand) the Women in Business Leadership Award is supported by Craigs Investment Partners and the recipient receives $1000 NZD in addition to the amounts funded by the Zonta International Foundation.Eligibility criteria and application details can be found here. You can find your nearest club here.
For more information please contact our 2024-2026 Women in Business Chair, Sue Hope: suehopeconsult@gmail.com.
2024 | Olivia Murphy | Christchurch-Canterbury | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2023 | Madeleine Newman | Metropolitan Dunedin | NZ Award Winner |
2022 | Lauren Thomas | Christchurch-Canterbury | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2021 | Rachael Bright | Hamilton-Waikato | NZ Award Winner |
2020 | Celia (Xi Yue) Wang | Auckland | NZ Award Winner |
2019 | Quin Leong | Hamilton | NZ Award Winner |
2018 | Jemma Simonds | Auckland | NZ Award Winner |
2017 | Konika Solanki | Auckland | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2016 | Sarah-Michelle Washer | Hamilton | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2015 | Katie Keir | Auckland | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2014 | Kate McCaw | Auckland North Shore | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2013 | Alana Scott | Hamilton | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2012 | Nupur Upadhyay | Auckland | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2011 | Rosana Cooper | Palmerston Nth | NZ Award Winner |
2010 | Hannah Broederlow | Palmerston Nth | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2009 | Valeria Kern | Auckland | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2008 | Genevieve Cooper | Wanganui | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
Young Women In Leadership Award
The progress of women in the last century has dramatically increased the opportunities available to women, yet women’s participation in positions of public influence continues to lag behind. Zonta International believes young women are the key to women’s advancement in the field of public service.
The Young Women in Leadership Awards program recognises young women for their demonstrated leadership skills and commitment to public service and civic causes and encourages them to continue their participation in public and political life.

Since the program’s inception in 1991, Zonta has given 721 awards totalling $621,750 to 629 young women from 51 countries. District recipients receive $US1,500 and 10 international awards of $US5,000.
In District 16 (New Zealand) the Young Women in Leadership Award is supported by Giltrap Group and the recipient receives $NZ1000-00 in addition to the amounts funded by the Zonta International Foundation.
The award was previously known as the Young Women in Public Affairs Award and was renamed in 2024 to Young Women in Leadership Award.
For more information and an application please contact our 2024-2026 Young Women in Leadership Award Chair, Clare Bruce: clarebruce231@gmail.com.
Award Details
2023 | Wei Tian Teo | Auckland | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2022 | Shuari Naidoo | Tauranga | NZ Award Winner |
2021 | Carmen Holdaway | Christchurch | NZ Award Winner |
2020 | E Wen Wong | Christchurch | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2019 | Olivia Luxon | Auckland | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2018 | Sara Khatau | Auckland | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2017 | Emilly Fan | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award | |
2016 | Loren Skudder-Hill | Rotorua | NZ Award Winner |
2015 | Gauri Prabhakar | Auckland | NZ Award Winner |
2014 | Danielle Newton | Whangarei | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2013 | Isobel Ferguson | Ashburton | NZ Award Winner & Zonta International Award |
2012 | Kerry Anne Mackereth | Auckland | NZ Award Winner |
2011 | Katje Heesterman | Wellington | NZ Award Winner |
2010 | Sue Wei ‘Sylvie’ Chan | Auckland | NZ Award Winner |
2009 | Charlotte Davis | Wellington | NZ Award Winner |
2008 | Rosa Stickings | Dunedin | NZ Award Winner |
Amelia Earhart Award
Aerospace-Related Sciences and Engineering
Today, women remain a distinct minority in science and engineering, representing approximately 10 percent of professionals in these fields. The Amelia Earhart Fellowship program helps talented women, pursuing advanced studies in the typically male-dominated fields of aerospace-related sciences and engineering, achieve their educational goals.
The Fellowship enables these women to invest in state-of-the-art computers to conduct their research, purchase expensive books and resource materials, and participate in specialised studies around the globe. Amelia Earhart Fellows have gone on to become astronauts, aerospace engineers, astronomers, professors, geologists, business owners, heads of companies, even Secretary of the US Air Force.
Since 1938 and the program’s inception, Zonta has awarded 1,438 Amelia Earhart Fellowships, totalling US$8.6 million, to 1,014 women from 70 countries. Since 1996 there have been 35-40 awards annually, now worth $US10,000. Amelia Earhart Fellowships are made possible by generous contributions to the Zonta International Foundation Amelia Earhart Fellowship Fund.
Past recipients: 2012 & 2013 – Zerrin Turkeli-Ramadan and 2016 Maedeh Amirpourmolla
For more information about Zerrin Turkeli-Ramadan and Maedeh Amirpourmolla Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship Details.
For more information and an application please contact our 2024-2026 Amelia Earhart Chair, Irene King: irene@ireneking.nz
Women in STEM Scholarship
The Zonta International Women in STEM Scholarship encourages women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in STEM fields.
Women are still underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Zonta International Women in STEM Scholarship is designed to support women who have decided on a career path in the STEM subjects.
The program operates at the Zonta club, district/region and international levels. Each Zonta district/region may submit one applicant for consideration for an international scholarship. A single candidate from each of Zonta’s 31 districts and one region will receive an award of US$5,000 from Zonta International.
Women studying in the second year of an undergraduate program through the final year of a master’s program are eligible for this award.
Information and the application form can be found on the international website: https://www.zonta.org/Web/Programs/Education/Women_in_STEM_Scholarship
Alternatively, for more information and an application please contact the 2024-2026 Women in STEM Chair, Nicola Schreurs: N.M.Schreurs@massey.ac.nz
District 16 (New Zealand) Awards
Zonta Woman of the Biennium
This Biennial Award recognises an outstanding New Zealand woman, whose contribution to the lives of women and girls in the New Zealand community epitomises the values and aspirations of Zonta International.
New Zealand recipient announced and presented at D16 Biennial Conference. (Note: criteria for this Award has changed in 2008)
New Zealand recipient announced and presented at D16 Biennial Conference.
2022 – 2024 | Lady Tureiti Moxon |
2020 – 2022 | |
2018 – 2020 | Prof. Sarah Leberman |
2016 – 2018 | Mai Chen |
2014 – 2016 | Lesley Elliott |
2012 – 2014 | Heather Henare |
2010 – 2012 | Deborah Bush |
2008 – 2010 | Dame Adrienne Stewart |
2006 – 2008 | Annah Stretton |
Zonta District 16 Cherry Raymond Award
This Biennial Award recognises the Zonta Club of the District which has the best service or advocacy project for the Biennium.
Cherry Raymond Zonta International District 16 has established a permanent Award in memory of Cherry Raymond, Regional Representative 1972-1974, who established Zonta International in New Zealand and was subsequently elected Governor District 16 from 1990-1992. Cherry was a charter member of the Zonta Club on Auckland, and a committed advocate for women’s rights and gender equality. The members of the Zonta Club of Auckland initiated the establishment of this Award in her memory, and it was approved by the District 16 Conference in 2007.
It will be granted to a Zonta International District 16 Club that has successfully undertaken a service and/or advocacy activity in their area that is considered by the District 16 Board to epitomise the Zonta mission of advancing the status of women.
The Club that receives this Award may exclusively use the by-line:
“Zonta International District 16 Cherry Raymond Award Recipient 2024 – 2026”
For more information and the Application Form Cherry Raymond Award Application
2023 | Zonta Club of Oamaru |
2022 | |
2021 | Zonta Club of Hibiscus Coast |
2019 | Zonta Club of Oamaru |
2017 | Zonta Club of Mana |
2015 | Zonta Club of Wanganui |
2013 | Zonta Club of Metropolitan Dunedin |
2011 | Zonta Club of Mangawhai |
2009 | Zonta Club of North Shore |